Fox could have made Werrity a Special Adviser but he chose not to, thereby keeping his role informal and less constrained

On Friday, the Defence Secretary Liam Fox was forced to resign after questions were raised concerning his relationship with Adam Werritty, and his nebulous links to unspecified backers, business contacts and overseas officials. Andrew Blick looks at the historical roots of the Special Advisor role for explanations of how these situations can come about

Reports of Parliament’s decline much exaggerated

The last decade has seen a series of significant innovations in the way Parliament holds government to account, mostly involving the House of Commons, but in some cases the House of Lords as well. They include: More resources for select committees; The introduction of ‘core tasks’ for select committees in the Commons setting out their work objectives; More select committees in both houses, holding more inquiries and producing more reports; The Prime Minister holding twice-annual oral evidence sessions with the House of Commons Liaison Committee, which comprises the chairs of the various Commons select committees; The introduction of public bill committees for more effective legislative scrutiny in the Commons; Greater transparency for executive financial accountability to Parliament; A Commons backbench business committee, to some extent loosening the grip of the executive, via the whips, on the Commons timetable; Elections for Commons committee members and chairs, again lessening the influence of the whips; Pre-appointment hearings by Commons committees for preferred candidates for major public appointments; and The placing of powers previously exercised under the extra-parliamentary Royal Prerogative on a statutory basis, making Parliament the ultimate authority. Most notably, the Civil Service is now regulated by an Act of Parliament

Federalism provides a desirable path forward for the UK’s constitution – and may be the only means of preserving the Union

The UK is soon to decide whether to maintain its membership of the European Union, with only two years having elapsed since the referendum on Scottish independence. Meanwhile, the government is assisting in the creation of ‘city regions’ in England. Andrew Blick argues that given all of this, the time is right to turn to federalism, with its ability to disperse powers in a codified and consistent manner – for answers

There May be trouble ahead: post-EU referendum instability will keep afflicting the UK

In advance of the election, Theresa May claimed that a resounding victory would enhance her bargaining position in the coming negotiations with the EU. Andrew Blick (King’s College London and the Federal Trust) has long argued that the size of the UK government majority would not be a preeminent concern for the EU, and would not in itself lead to their countenancing compromising fundamental material objectives. The early election was intended by May to service the requirements of domestic political management. He maintains that this remains problematic for the Brexit negotiations

What is the UK constitution made of? Exposing the ‘hidden wiring’

Late last year, the Cabinet Office published in draft form a document called the Cabinet Manual. Subtitled ‘A guide to laws, conventions, and rules on the operation of government’, it was initially intended by Gordon Brown, when instigating it as Prime Minister, as a possible first step towards a written constitution for the UK. This plan has subsequently been dropped, but the manual has survived. Andrew Blick discusses what has become the most comprehensive statement of Britain’s constitution hitherto published

The UK political system has been stirred by the Brexit process

Through its insistence on leaving the EU, the May government has created an immense, administrative and technical challenge for itself. Moreover, it must be completed within a perilously short timeframe. Andrew Blick (King's College London) investigates the complications ahead of the Withdrawal Bill accounting for all the players involved

What precisely does 'Canada +++' mean?

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, has described his plans for a future trading arrangement with the EU as 'Canada plus plus plus'. But what precisely does this expression mean, if anything, and what are the trade and political implications? Andrew Blick (KCL and the Federal Trust) explains

The constitutional implications of a second EU referendum

Andrew Blick outlines some of the constitutional issues to which the question of a second EU referendum gives rise. He writes that unless these matters are given serious consideration in advance of such a decision, the repetition of the exercise is unlikely to improve matters and might even aggravate them

It does matter who provides public services, especially when things go wrong

Recent coverage of the evidence of mistreatment of patients with learning disabilities at the Winterbourne View residential hospital in Bristol raises an important question. Is the level of democratic accountability for public services the same, regardless of the status of the organisations specifically involved? Andrew Blick argues that it does matter who provides our public services – especially when things go wrong

The multiple and profound constitutional implications of Covid-19

Andrew Blick considers the implications of the COVID-19 emergency for the UK constitution, ranging from the effectiveness of specific laws to the socio-economic role of government. The coronavirus emergency is profound in its constitutional implications